From left to right: Jason Black (Sponsor, Voodoo), Pauraic Neely (Design Engineer), Ciaran Kelly (Resource Manager), Ayrton Kelly (Team Manager/ Marketing), Gavin Maguire (Manufacturing Engineer), Caolán Vaughan (Graphic Designer), Mairtin Kelly (Sponsor, Kelly’s Centra)
The team from Optimal F1 at St Eunans College in Letterkenny are revved up and ready to go.
The dedicated and talented bunch of would-be engineers have made it to the last hurdle of the F1 Schools National Final at Dublin CAstle next Friday.
The guys held a special press launch in Kelly’s Centra, Mountain Top.
The evening was very successful with a good turnout of sponsors, parents, family, teachers and students of St. Eunan’s College.
Ciaran and Gavin of Optimal F1 perfecting their reaction time at an earlier testing session.
“I think it’s great to see how supportive we as a school community are: it was really great to see the few students show up. It meant a lot to us as a team that our peers are fully behind us,” said Ayrton Kelly, Marketing Manager of Optimal F1.
Optimal F1’s sponsors were also represented on the evening with Karen Murphy (Karen Murphy School of Speech, Drama & Communications), Jason Black (Voodoo Venue) and Mairtin Kelly (Kelly’s Centra, Mountain Top) in attendance while other sponsors sent their regrets.
“Again, to have the support of our sponsors and to see that they truly have an interest in what they are supporting is fantastic: it makes it all worthwhile”.
The team mentioned the support that Saint Eunan’s College have given them.
“Everyone at the college has been so supportive and forthcoming with their help and advice, Mr Chris Darby (Principal) and Mr Shaun McGinley (Facilitator) especially. Mr McGinley has given up so much of his time and effort and we as a team could definitely not be here without his endless ideas, advice and support”.
Optimal F1 mentioned how all the teachers of the college supported them in their achievements so far.
“The teachers have helped us with whatever we need. Ms Una Ní Fhatharta helped draft a sponsorship letter for a Swiss company, Mr Pauric O’Donnell has helped us with any IT issues we may have and Ms Lisa Gallagher has been so understanding and supportive of us too”.
Attracta Winters of the St. Eunan’s Parents Committee was also in present and she thanked the support of the Letterkenny Community, without which the Parents Committee could not do their work and support school projects such as Optimal F1.
Both Jason Black and Mairtin Kelly had very kind words to say of Optimal F1 as well mentioning the group’s hardwork, persistence and consideration for their sponsors.
Jason commented that he very much felt a part of the team through Optimal F1’s regular updates and mentions.
“We are especially grateful to our parents and family. From lifts to meetings to endless advice they have been the backbone of Optimal F1 and again, we would not be here without them,” said Ciaran Kelly.
Optimal F1 will be heading down to Dublin next Friday for the F1 in Schools National Finals in Dublin Castle.
The competition is powered in Ireland by the Irish Computer Society and it consist of a team designing, building and racing a miniature 1/20th scale F1 car made of Balsa wood.
Follow their progress on Facebook (fb.com/OptimalF1), Twitter (@optimalf1) and their award-winning website (optimalf1.com).
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